Railway signal-torpedo



'F. BUTCHER RAILWAY SIGNAL TORPEDQ. APPLICATION HLED DEC. 27. L920.

Patented July 19, 1921.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK DUTCI HEB, OF VEBSA ILLES, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB TO CENTRAL RAIL- WAY SIGNAL COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A GOBFORATION OF Patented July 19, 1921.

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, RAILWAY SIGNAL-TOBPEDO.

1,385,313, Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed December 27, 1920. Serial No. 433,373.

Toall whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK Dn'ronan, a citizen-of the United States, residing at Versailles, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway Signal- Torpedoes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing. 7

This invention relates to improvements in railway signal torpedoes, and it pertains to a torpedo having an explosive case made up of a sheet which is folded around an explosive charge. v

The object of my present invention is to provide an improved manner of holdlng the final folds of the sheet and a rail-engaging strap to the case, whereby the usual metal cli for that purpose is omitted.

Pu the accompanyingdrawmgs:

Figure 1 is a perspective new of a torpedo embodying my present improvement.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of my improved toredo. p Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the rail-engaging strap 1n position above the final folds of the sheet embracing it.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the blank or sheet from which the case is formed and the position of the explosive charge thereon before the sheet is wrapped around it.

The torpedo case 1 is formed from a sheet of paper or suitable fiber 2, whereby there is no metal to fly when the case is exploded by the explosive charge. The ex losive charge 3 is rectangular in shape an 1s of tablet or cake form. By reference to Fig. 4, attention is called to the fact that the sheet 2 is preferably three times as wide and approximately five and one-half times as long as the explosive charge 3. These d1- mensions may be varied somewhat without departing from the scope of my mvention. In wrapping the explosive charge 3, it is placed approximately its length from one end of the blank and in substantially the center of the width of the blank. That is to say, there is a folding portion 4 beyond the charge 3 of a width approximately the Width of the charge 3, plus its thickness. This portion 4 is folded over the charge and the remaining portion of the blank is wrapped around the portion of the explosive charge which puts the folded sheet in the shape shown in Fig. 3. In this shape there are two folded ends 5 and 6, which extend beyond the explosive charge 3. With the sheet folded as shown in Fig. 3, the rail-engaging strap 7 is placed across the explosive charge containing portion 8 of the case.

Preferably the raiLengaging member 7, which is here shown in the form of a lead strap, extends diagonal across the explosive containing portion 8 of the case. A string 9 of suitable length is then passed around the rail-engaging strap 7. The folded end 5 of the sheet is doubled inward over the strap 7 andthe string 9, the folded end 6 is then folded over the end 5, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The string 9 is then doubled around the folded ends 5 and 6, as at 10, and then around the Whole case, as at 1.1, and its ends suitably fastened, as for instance, by a knot 12.

Before the explosive 3 is placed on the blank 2, the blank is coated with cement so that as it wraps around the explosive charge 3 it is cemented to the explosive and each wra cemented to the other. Likewise the outside of the explosive containing part 8 and the corresponding sides of the ends 5 and 6 are coated with cement before the stra 7 and string 9 are placed thereon, as in ig. 3, and before the ends 5 and 6 are folded as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Preferably for water-proofing purposes, the whole case structure when completed as in Figs. 1 and 2, is coated with a suitable waterproofing compound or cement by dipping or otherwise.

A torpedo case, formed in the manner here shown, does not have any metal parts for holding the folded portions of the case or the strap in position, whereby an absolutely non-flying torpedo is provided of rectangular shape and of eifectlve construction.

I am aware that a string has been used for tying the parts of a box-like torpedo together, but so far as I am aware, a torpedo case has not heretofore been formed from a sheet with its final folded ends holding a strap, and the string holding the final folds of the case of the torpedo.

I do not make any claim herein for the diagonal arrangement of the rail-engaging member or strap 7 as this is made the subject-matter of the claims of a co-pending application.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is e 1. A railway signal torpedo having a case, composed of a sheet wrapped around an explosive charge, a rail-engaging member embraced by the final folds of the case, and a string holding the final folds of the case and the'strap in position;

2. A railway signaltorpedo, comprising a case formed of a sheet Wrapped around an explosive charge forming extended folded ends at opposite sides of the charge, a rail engaging member extending across the explosive containing part, the extended. ends .folded inward upon each other and upon the rail-engaging member, the folded extended ends, the rail-engaging member and the explosive containing portionlof the case cemented together, for the purpose described.

.3. A railway signal torpedo having a case,

' composed of a sheet wrapped around an explosive charge'to form extended folded ends at opposite sides of the charge'containmg portion of the sheet, a rail-engaging member extending across the charge containing portion, said extended ends folded inward upon each other and upon the rail-engaging member, a string wrapped around the folded ends and then around the completed case, the ends of the string suitably fastened, whereby the folded ends of the case and the strap are held in position in respect to each other.

4:. A railway signal torpedo having a case composed of a sheet wrapped around the explosive charge to form ends extending at opposite sides of the charge, a rail-engaging member and a string extending across the charge containing portion, one end folded inward on the rail-engaging member, the string and the charge containing portion and: cemented thereto,'the other end folded inward over and cemented to the aforesaid folded end, and a string Wrapped around the folded ends and the case thus holding them intheir folded positions.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

FRANK DUTCHER 

